The operator of one of the Canadian team’s sprint boats, Fat Buddy, failed to successfully negotiate a turn, hit a dirt embankment and rocketed toward a line of spectators. The boat crashed through a catch-fence, but most everyone got out of the way in time.

Only one person of the 3,000 in attendance was slightly injured, Patrick said.

"We were surprised that it went through the fence," he said. "A kid got a scrape, maybe from the boat or getting out the way."

Patrick built the track six years ago and won the national championship last year. His partner is his 20 year-old daughter.

"If it wasn't safe, I wouldn't have my daughter in the boat," he said. His boat? Psycho Racing 151.

Patrick said he spent the day on the phone with local and even international media. The crash through the fence, he said, wasn't even the most spectacular of the day. The last one of three others included a boat that rolled 3.5 times, "with a pirouette in the middle.

"Everybody walked away,'' he said. "The day ran flawless. We were only down a half hour after they went through the fence--and that was the first time it happened. Hopefully it won't happen again."